NBA: Kawhi Leonard scores 38, Clippers top Knicks
Kawhi Leonard #2, Paul George #13 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the LA Clippers celebrate after a timeout during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on February 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
Kawhi Leonard scored 38 points on 14-of-22 shooting from the floor, and Paul George added 22 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Los Angeles Clippers handed the visiting New York Knicks their third consecutive loss with a 106-95 decision on Saturday.
The Clippers controlled the fourth quarter with a stifling defense, limiting the Knicks to 5-of-18 shooting from the field. Los Angeles capitalized on its stingy defense with effective offense, converting 11-of-18 field-goal attempts.
The 95 points New York was held to was among the lowest outputs the Clippers have allowed this season and marked the ninth game they kept an opponent to less than 100 points.
Worked together and got the W.
📼 @honey highlights vs. Knicks pic.twitter.com/vhJqYYBsVG
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 12, 2023
For the Knicks, the 95 points were just their fifth time failing to reach 100 points for the season.
While the fourth quarter proved especially trying for the New York offense, the Knicks finished the contest shooting just 32-of-90 from the floor overall and a woeful 7-of-31 from beyond the 3-point arc.
Immanuel Quickley led the Knicks with 26 points and Julius Randle added 19, but Randle finished 5 of 24 from the field.
Quickley completed a double-double with 10 rebounds. Mitchell Robinson added a game-high 14 rebounds but scored just six points on 2-of-8 shooting in the loss, New York’s second in the first two of four games on a Western Conference swing.
The Knicks opened the road trip with a loss Thursday in Sacramento.
For Los Angeles, the win marked its third straight and improved the Clippers to 3-0 over their current, five-game homestand.
Marcus Morris Sr. and Eric Gordon joined Leonard and George in scoring double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Ivica Zubac scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and grabbed six rebounds.
Russell Westbrook chipped in seven points, five rebounds and three assists.
